Beta-damascenone is one of the most important flavor compounds in the essential oil of roses. Its presence and quantity is considered as "the" marker for the quality of rose oil. β-damascenone is, however, only present in very low concentrations (100 ppm) in the essential oil. The analysis of beta-damascenone in rose oils is, therefore, a typical application whereby high resolution and compound specific detection is required.

Capillary gas chromatography using highly efficient columns does not offer sufficient resolution to ensure
complete separation of beta-damascenone from the complex mixture of compounds present in the essential oil. Selective sample preparation, in order to isolate the compound before GC analyses, is also not feasible because the matrix consists of terpenes and terpenoids with similar volatility and polarity. Selective detection using GC/MS is limited as well since the mass spectrum of damascenone resembles the spectra of other terpenes.